Switch actuator



F. N. ANDERSON SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed April 29, 1968 Feb. 3, 1970 fl/S ATTORNEX United States Patent 3,492,882 SWITCH ACTUATOR Fred N. Anderson, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to Cherry Electrical Products Corporation, Highland Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 725,066 Int. Cl. F16h 21/14; H01h 13/32 US. Cl. 74100 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An external actuator lever for a switch, having a sub stantial linear movement and an arm pivotally carried at one end of the lever and movable thereby through a guided dual directional path so as to engage and depress the actuator button of a switch, so as to momentarily pulse the same with the arm having a non-actuating return stroke.

A reciprocally movable actuator lever for, and externally of, a switch, and having a substantial linear movement through a predetermined path. An arm pivotally mounted on one end of the lever and movable thereby through a guided dual directional path into and out -of contact with an actuating button of the switch whereby the arm will depress the actuating button of the switch to operate the same on the down stroke of the lever with the arm having a non-actuating return stroke as the lever returns to its original position.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which there is shown:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention with its cover removed;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing certain parts in a partially actuated position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing certain parts of the invention in a fully actuated position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the actuator;and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational sectional view of the housing for the lever and switch.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a housing which comprises a base wall 11 and a cover 12 forming therebetween a compartmentized cavity. The Wall 11 and cover 12 at the base thereof provide a receptacle for a snap switch 13. When the switch 13 is mounted in the housing 10 its actuator button 14 projects into the bottom compartment 15 formed between the wall 11 and cover 12 as seen in FIG. 5.

The actuating lever of this invention consists of two parts, one of which is an elongated lever 16, and the other a pivotal arm 17. The lever 16 has a free end portion 18 that projects out of an opening 19 formed in the top wall 20 of the housing 10. The lever 16 provides cross arms 21 that slide between walls 22 and 23 which in part define an upper cavity 24.

To the rear of the cross arms 21 there is provided a base 25 which rests upon the rear wall 26 of the upper cavity 24, (FIG. 5).

A longitudinal continuation 27 of the lever 16 projects through a reduced passage 28 formed between the upper compartment 24 and the lower compartment 15 of the housing 10. This portion 27 of the lever 16 terminates in an offset heel 29 (FIG. 4), which is adapted to sit in a slot 30 formed in the bottom wall 31 of the lower compartment 15. On the top side of the heel 29 there is provided a connecting pin 32 which is adapted to be freely journaled in a suitable opening formed in one end of the pivot arm 17. The connection of the arm 17 to the lever 16 permits it to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the long axis of the lever 16 as well as to move laterally 3,492,882 Patented Feb. 3, 1970 out of the longitudinal plane of the lever, the purpose and function of which will be hereafter made apparent.

Projecting from the underside of the opposite free end of the arm 17 is a guide pin 33 which is adapted to ride upon a wall 34 which extends angularly with respect to the slot 30 so that such free end of the arm 17 will be moved in its dual direction downwardly and laterally out of the path of linear movement of the lever 16. To prevent the free end of the arm 17 from pivoting in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 1 through 3 to such a degree that it would not contact the switch button 14, there is provided a partial retaining wall 35 extending in spaced parallel relation with respect to the angular wall 34, and which terminates above and to one side of the switch button 14. The angular wall 34 and retaining wall 35 form therebetween a passage P through which the guide pin 33 will move until the free end of the arm 17 has engaged and depressed the switch button 14.

As the lever 16 is moved inwardly of the housing 10 the pivot arm 17 will be moved therewith through its dual directional movement, that is to say, it will generally move down through the passage P which extends angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lever 16. This movement will cause the free end of the arm 17 to engage the switch actuating button 14, causing the same to be depressed into the switch casing so as to actuate the switch 13 as seen in FIG. 2. As will be noted, the switch button 14 is of a dome shape, and the free end of the arm 17 has an oppositely curved end surface 36 which cooperates with the dome shaped button 14 so that as a result of the continuing lateral movement of the arm 17 its curved free end 36 will be displaced to one side of the button 14 after the same has been fully depressed. The button 14 by its construction will have an inherent self-restoring force returning it to its original position, and this inherent force will be sufficient to effect movement of the arm 17 and its guide pin 33 into the position shown in FIG. 3.

In order for the lever 16 and arm 17 to have a nonactuating return stroke, it is necessary to return the free end of the pivot arm 17 back to its original position where it will sit at the base of the slot 30 between the guide walls 34 and retaining wall 35. To accomplish this the lower compartment 15 of the cavity is provided with a ramp 37 which leads up to an inclined wall 38 formed on the opposite side of the guide wall 35 (see FIG. 5). The guide pin 33 as heretofore explained will have been moved up the ramp 37 by the return action of the switch button 14, and thus when the lever 16 reciprocally moves through its determined vertical path upwardly through the housing 10 by reason of the spring 39, coiled thereabout, it will put out the guide pin 33 up and over the inclined wall 38 until it falls into its original position against the wall 34, as seen in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the cover 12 is spaced from the base wall 11 by projections 39, 40 and 41 formed on one face thereof, a sufiicient distance to permit the free end of the arm 17 to be raised away from the bottom wall 31 of the cover 12, up and over the ramp 37, the inclined wall 38 and retaining wall 35 without becoming disengaged from the pivot pin 32 of the lever 16.

The arm 17 has one edge adjacent its free end notched as at 42. Thus in the event that the free end of the arm 17 after it has depresesd the switch button 14 is not moved up the ramp 37 by the return movement of the switch button 14, such notch 42 will mate with the curvature of the button 14 and prevent return movement of the arm 17 thereover. Return movement of the arm 17 will be through the path heretofore described by reason of the fact that the curvature of the button 14 will force the. guide pin 33 up the ramp 37 and over the inclined wall 38 when it is forced to return to its original position by the return of the lever 16 to its original position.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the actuating lever of this invention will effect a single pulse operation of the switch 13, and will restore the actuating lever to its original or inoperative position after each pulse actuation of the switch.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An external actuator for a snap-action switch having a movable self-restoring actuating button including a hollow housing and an elongated lever having a predetermined substantially linear reciprocal path of movement during which the actuating button is momentarily depressed to pulse the switch, wherein the improvement comprises:

(a) an actuating means on one end of the lever and normally extending coaxially thereof and movable therewith substantially through a linear path in the direction of the actuating button of the switch,

(b) means pivotally connecting said actuating means to one end of the lever so that its free end may move through a guided path directed toward the actuating button of the switch when the lever is moved through its predetermined linear path within the housing,

(c) stationary guide means within the housing for guiding the free end of said actuating means into momentary contact with the actuating button of the switch for depressing the same,

(d) follower means on said free end of said actuating means cooperating with said stationary guide means for moving said free end out of the linear path of movement of the lever and into momentary contact with the actuating button of the switch, and

(e) an inclined guide member in the path of said follower means after it has been moved out of contact with said stationary guide means by the selfrestoring action of the actuating button after it has been depressed by said actuating means for returning said actuating means over said stationary guide means and back to its original position coaxially of the lever without again depressing the actuating button of the switch.

2. An external actuator for a snap action switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said actuating means on one end of the lever comprises a movable and pivotal arm having one end connected to one end of the lever, and its opposite end spaced above the actuating button of the switch and free to move through a guided dual directional path within said housing.

3. An external actuator for a snap action switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a passage formed in the side wall surface of the hollow housing extending angularly with respect to and from the end of the linear path of the lever and to one side of the actuating button of the switch, with the passage cooperating with said follower means on said actuating means for guiding it into. contact with .the acuating buton of the switch so as to depress the same and thereby actuate the switch.

4. An external actuator for a snap action switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means on said actuating means which cooperates with said guide means comprises a pin extending laterally from said one end of said actuating means.

5. An external actuator for a snap action switch as defined by claim 4 wherein said guide means comprises a passage formed in the side wall surface of the hollow housing and which extends angularly with respect to and from the end of the linear path of the lever and to one side of the actuating button of the switch, with the passage cooperating with said guide pin on said end of said actuating means for guiding it into contact with the actuating button so as to depress the same to pulse the switch.

6. An external actuator for a snap action switch as defined by claim 1 wherein a portion of said stationary guide means comprises a partial wall extending angularly with respect to the linear path of the lever and terminating above and to one side of the actuating button of the switch, and behind which said follower means is moved by the self-restoring action of the actuating button after it has been depressed by said actuating means.

7. An external actuator for a snap action switch as defined by claim 5 wherein a portion of said stationary guide means comprises a partial wall terminating above and to one side of the actuating button of the switch, a distance equal to the diameter of said guide pin so the same may pass therearound after said actuating means has depressed the actuating button so as to mounentarily pulse the switch.

8. An external actuator for a snap action switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said inclined guide member in the path of movement of said one end of said actuating means comprises a ramp extending generally in the direction of the linear path of movement of the lever with said follower means on said actuating means adapted to be moved thereover so as to be raised up and beyond said stationary guide means as it is returned to its original position coaxially of the lever and above the actuating button of the switch.

9. An external actuator for a snap action switch as defined by claim 8 wherein the free end of said actuating means and the actuating button of the switch present opposing curved surfaces whereby said follower means will be' moved up said inclined guide member by the self-restoring movement of the actuating button after it has been momentarily depressed by said actuating means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 745,899 12/1903 Patterson 74-100 809,693 1/1906 Johnston 7410O 1,051,219 1/1913 *Grabau 74-99 3,257,536 6/1966 Smith 200- FOREIGN PATENTS 956,566 4/1964 Great Britain.

FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner WESLEY S. RATLIFF, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 200- 8 

